XClose

UCL News

Home
Menu

Participants needed for brain imaging study on developmental dyslexia

5 July 2013

We are currently looking for children aged 9 to 11 years to participate in a brain imaging study on Developmental Dyslexia.

We are particularly interested in differences within the reading networks in the brain of typical readers and of poor readers. We wish to study this using non-invasive brain imaging methods such as MRI and a set of standardized neuropsychological assessment.

We hope to find not only which regions in the brain are different in Dyslexia, but also how they are connected. Moreover, we are interested in how these reading networks relate to other cognitive networks in the brain. This will help us understand why Dyslexia is such a heterogeneous disorder, with many children having additional difficulties that extend beyond the domain of only reading and spelling.

The study will consist of two parts: a MRI brain scan (max. 1 hour) and a behavioural assessment (~3 hours). The parents will receive a full report of the assessment and the brain images of their child.

We are looking for two groups of volunteers:

GROUP 1:

- born between 2001 and 2005

- speak English as first and only language

- have no history of neurological or developmental difficulties

- have no hearing impairments

GROUP 2:

- born between 2001 and 2005

- speak English as first and only language

- have no history of neurological disorders or hearing impairments

- have a formal diagnosis of Developmental Dyslexia

The brain scan is non-invasive and the parent may be present with the child in the scanner room if they wish.

Please contact me if you and your child is willing to participate and I will send you the information pack of the study.

The study has been approved by UCL REC, ID: 3427/002.

Please forward this to any family or friends who might be interested!

Lastly, do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Merina Su, PhD candidate, UCL Institute of Child Health